Tattooing as a Novel Method of Labeling Silicone Molds: Best Practices and Implications

Replicas of museum objects are important for research, education, and display. Among the most prominent methods for producing such replicas is molding and casting. Silicone products have been the most popular mold materials for decades; however, they remain difficult to permanently label. Stamping a label into the silicone before it cures yields the most legible and longest-lasting result, but these labels cannot be modified or added to after the silicone cures. This study presents a methodology for labeling silicone molds post-cure with inexpensive commercial tattoo equipment and archival ink. Labels were tested in collaboration with a professional tattoo artist on three different silicone products and with four different round liner (RL) needle cartridge configurations. Tattooed labels on all three types of silicone were more permanent, easy to modify, legible, and cost-effective than many previous label types. Seven- and five-pointed (7RL and 5RL) needle cartridges were suitable for most molds, whereas three-pointed (3RL) cartridges produced the smallest, most precise labels. Tattoo labels are recommended for any institution with a large collection of silicone molds to increase information accessibility and reduce metadata loss. Finally, this study highlights the benefits of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) collaboration in research.